SmartyPig Press Releases

SmartyPig_Partners_with_ANZ_Takes_Social_Saving_Global

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Martha Shaughnessy
Atomic PR for SmartyPig
415.402.0230
martha@atomicpr.com

SMARTYPIG PARTNERS WITH ANZ, TAKES “SOCIAL SAVING” GLOBAL

Online Piggy Bank to launch in Australia with SmartyPig.com.au

DES MOINES, Iowa, October 8, 2008 - SmartyPig® http://www.SmartyPig.com, the online piggy bank that helps individuals, families and organizations save for specific goals, announced today it had forged a new partnership with Australia New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) to provide innovative social savings to the next generation of its Australian banking customers with http://www.smartypig.com.au, which will launch in Australia in late October.

The partnership marks the first international expansion of SmartyPig’s patent-pending technology that offers customers a unique social saving capability - to enable friends and family to contribute to their savings goals through the SmartyPig Website or popular social networks like Facebook and MySpace.

“This is our first foray into international territory, and ANZ is a terrific partner to prove the model overseas,” said Jon Gaskell, Co-Founder of SmartyPig. “ANZ has a clear strategy regarding the introduction of distinct propositions to reach a very important, very socially plugged-in demographic. We could not be more excited to be part of this extraordinary initiative.”

SmartyPig is a new service that leverages the age-old idea of saving up for purchases before buying, while adding Web 2.0 and social networking technology to help customers reverse the “buy now, pay later” credit-card mindset. SmartyPig offers the only true banking application that is social, appealing to the next generation of banking customers while making it easier and more fun than ever to save up for specific goals. In the U.S., the site offers a highly competitive 3.90% (APY)* interest rate, and provides customers with cash boosts when a savings goal is reached from best-in-class retail partners like Amazon.com, Overstock.com, Royal Caribbean, Pottery Barn, Best Buy and Home Depot. Similar partnerships will benefit Australian customers.

ANZ Chief Executive Officer, Australia, Brian Hartzer, said, “We know that young people have unique needs when it comes to their finances. They look for simple, efficient and secure ways to manage their money and are more likely to bank online, as they are very comfortable with the technology.”

“We’re particularly excited about launching SmartyPig in Australia, as it’s a forward-thinking savings product that appeals to the tech-savvy and time-poor consumer.

“Partnering with companies like SmartyPig who can innovate and get to market rapidly helps us extend our point of difference.

“Being the first bank in Australia to introduce a savings product based on Web 2.0 and social networking technology is part of ANZ’s strategy to provide more convenient and simple banking for our customers.”

SmartyPig was created after co-founder Michael Ferrari, who had just set up a 529 college savings account for his new son, searched for a similar way to automatically save for a vacation that offered him the benefits he felt were most important: a social networking aspect, true incentives from retailers he frequents and ease of use. When he couldn’t find anything, he set out to create SmartyPig. The company has seen rapid adoption in the U.S. since its April 2008 launch.

In a September 10, 2008 Gartner Research report titled “New Retail Banking Vendors Bring Social Computing to the Savings Account,” analyst Stessa Cohen wrote: “Social computing vendors can support service differentiation and enhance relationship value, both of which retail banks sorely need and are too slow to deliver.” Cohen also noted, “Social computing vendors may also solve problems banks face in deploying new products and services - especially online - by... delivering a fun and easy-to-use customer experience - a rare achievement for banks.”

Gaskell said SmartyPig’s unique and independent financial services engine has been designed to be up and running with practically any financial institution in any country, language and currency within 90 days, and that plans for expansion into additional international territories would be unveiled within the next few months.

About SmartyPig
Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, SmartyPig is a simple, smart and secure way to save for a specific goal. Using groundbreaking technology and the latest in security standards, SmartyPig helps users reach their savings goals faster by allowing them to invite family and friends to contribute to their accounts, gives additional incentive boosts from top retailers who sell exactly what users are saving for and offers a competitive interest rate. SmartyPig.com is a privately-owned company which launched in April 2008. For more information visit www.SmartyPig.com. The SmartyPig site is protected by copyright and trademark laws under U.S. and international law. U.S. and international patent pending. All rights reserved. U.S. Certificate of Registration #TXU001582439.

About ANZ
ANZ is a publicly listed financial services company that has more than 6 million customers in some 30 countries across Australasia, the Pacific, Europe, Dubai, USA and Asia. ANZ is one of the largest and most successful companies in Australia, and the number one bank in New Zealand. ANZ has assets of AUD$392.6 billion. ANZ traces its origins to the Bank of Australasia, which opened its first office in Sydney in 1835.

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of October 10, 2008. Rates may change at any time without prior notice. All U.S. funds are held in West Bank, member FDIC.

Visit:
SmartyPig website: http://www.SmartyPig.com
SmartyPig blog: http://blog.SmartyPig.com
801 Grand Avenue, Suite 290
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone : 515-256-2086
Fax : 515-256-2091

SmartyPig_Launches_New_Company_Blog

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Wendy Artman
GroundFloor Media
301-762-1863
wartman@groundfloormedia.com

SMARTYPIG LAUNCHES NEW COMPANY BLOG

Developed on the Post Zinger blog platform, the new company blog strengthens SmartyPig’s commitment to open and transparent conversations with its customers about responsible savings, banking and innovation.

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 17, 2008 - SmartyPig®, http://www.smartypig.com, a new online savings solution combining social networking and sensible savings to help consumers reach savings goals faster with public accounts, competitive interest rates and cash boosts from retailers, today relaunched its SmartyPig blog to provide a conversational platform for its products, commentary about the banking industry and consumerism.

“The new blog showcases our commitment to putting SmartyPig on leading social platform technologies that help increase our outreach and connection with our impassioned users,” states Jon Gaskell, co-founder of SmartyPig. “Banking, savings and personal finance are light or easy subjects, but our goal is to be as informative, responsive and as inclusive as possible. We are looking at the blog as a great way to connect with what is of importance to our customers.”

The SmartyPig blog, http://blog.smartypig.com, is authored by Gaskell and Michael Ferrari, co-founder of SmartyPig. Subject topics of the blog include:

SmartyPig feature updates and notices
Personal finance
Banking
Credit
Consumerism
Contest announcements
Customer stories
Technology innovation
Social networks and communities

“We want our customers to be an integral part of our growth and development,” states Gaskell. “The more they can see and participate in discussions that we find relevant, the more understanding they have of who and what SmartyPig stands for. It’s important for us to have our customers see us as real people working hard to improve not only our company, but the way we look at being responsible consumers.”

The Post Zinger blog platform delivers an intuitive interface to post blogs, video, podcasts and easily manage the resulting conversations through comment moderation, custom RSS feeds, link tracking along with inherent content visibility factors to increase the distribution and syndication SmartyPig’s content.

“We really liked the idea of not having to hack together multiple technology platforms, one for blog posting and another for RSS management, and then sift through endless amounts of plug-ins to keep the blog current,” states Ferrari. “With Post Zinger, we have a single platform for content management, RSS management and content visibility - it’s a beautiful thing.”

About SmartyPig
Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, SmartyPig is a simple, smart and secure way to save for a specific goal. Using groundbreaking technology and the latest in security standards, SmartyPig helps users reach their savings goals faster by allowing them to invite family and friends to contribute to their accounts, gives additional incentive boosts from top retailers who sell exactly what users are saving for and offers a competitive interest rate. SmartyPig.com is a privately-owned company which launched in February 2008. For more information visit www.SmartyPig.com. SmartyPig is a registered trademark of SmartyPig. US patent pending. All rights reserved.

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of June 17, 2008. Rates may change at any time without prior notice. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Minimum opening balance is $25.

Visit:
SmartyPig website: http://www.SmartyPig.com
SmartyPig blog: http://blog.SmartyPig.com
Jon Gaskell
Co-Founder
801 Grand Avenue, Suite 290
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone : 515-256-2086
Fax : 515-256-2091

SmartyPig_Offers_Smart_Simple_and_Safe_Solution_In_Web_2.0_World

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Wendy Artman
GroundFloor Media
301-762-1863
wartman@groundfloormedia.com

AS CONSUMER DEBT CLIMBS TO AN ALL-TIME HIGH, SMARTYPIG OFFERS A SMART, SIMPLE AND SAFE SOLUTION FOR CONSUMERS IN A WEB 2.0 WORLD

SmartyPig combines social networking and sensible savings to help consumers reach savings goals faster with public accounts, competitive interest rates, cash boosts from retailers

DES MOINES, Iowa, April 7, 2008 - With consumers racking up more than $2.2 trillion in credit card purchases and cash advances, and lenders collecting a record $18.1 billion in penalty fees - last year alone, one thing is for certain: Americans simply cannot afford to keep buying on credit. SmartyPig®, a new online savings solution launching today, provides credit-cautious consumers a smart, secure and simple way to save for specific goals and rewards them like never before for doing so.

Unlike other savings accounts, SmartyPig has three unique twists that actually help consumers reach their savings goals faster:

SmartyPig is the only online savings tool that leverages Web 2.0 technologies allowing account holders to make their savings accounts public so family and friends can securely contribute to their savings goals.
SmartyPig currently offers a 4.3% (Annual Percentage Yield)* interest rate and will always maintain a competitive interest rate for account holders.
SmartyPig gives consumers even more for their money by offering additional cash boosts (up to five percent) from best-in-class retail partners like Royal Caribbean, Pottery Barn, Best Buy, Cabela's and Home Depot, when they reach a savings goal.

According to a 2007 online survey of 1,200 U.S. adult consumers¹, when making a “big ticket” purchase other than a house or car, 37 percent of adults save first, then make their purchase. “In order to start tackling the consumer debt problem, we need to improve this number,” said Jon Gaskell, SmartyPig co-founder.

“SmartyPig's smart, simple and secure approach to saving teaches the benefits of good financial habits, reverses the ‘buy now, pay later’ mentality and makes saving money a fun, easy and rewarding experience. Additionally, we use the latest in security standards, and savings accounts opened using SmartyPig are deposited at West Bank, an FDIC-insured banking institution, so consumers can trust their financial information and savings are secure,” adds Gaskell.

SmartyPig is ideal for families saving for a vacation, for grandparents wanting to help a grandchild purchase a new bike or computer, for homeowners needing a home improvement or for newlyweds saving for a new piece of furniture. “The uses for SmartyPig are endless,” said Gaskell. “If you need to make a big purchase, or you simply want to save money, a SmartyPig account will make your savings work for you like never before, giving you more for your money.”

According to SmartyPig co-founder Mike Ferrari, the SmartyPig concept was conceived out of need. “When I opened a college savings program for my new son, I wondered if similar programs were available to help me save for other goals like a family vacation, a home electronics purchase or home improvement. Existing options were too restrictive, offered no incentives and certainly didn't make saving money a fun experience. We really wanted a way to change that.”

How SmartyPig Works
Users set up their savings accounts at smartypig.com and choose to fund it on a monthly basis through electronic transfers from existing outside checking or savings accounts. Users can also choose to make their SmartyPig account public, allowing friends and family to help contribute to their savings goal. SmartyPig account owners must be 18-years old; however, parents can give minors access to specific goals, making the experience an educational and rewarding one for kids. SmartyPig accounts are held at West Bank, an FDIC insured bank. FDIC insurance covers an individual account holder for up to the maximum amount allowed by law.

When account holders wishes to close their saving goals, they can receive their principle savings plus a competitive interest on a flexible SmartyPig MasterCard Debit Card that can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted, including ATMs. Or to stretch their savings dollar even further, they can receive their savings plus interest on a gift card from some of the country‘s top retailers with additional cash boosts of up to five percent on the total savings goal achieved.

Opening and maintaining a SmartyPig account is free and customers can have as many savings accounts as they wish, each with an unlimited number of savings goals. During SmartyPig‘s beta phase, Netbanker.com, a leading online finance and banking blog, named SmartyPig as their first 2008 Best of the Web, calling it “The most innovative financial service since Prosper.” For more information, visit www.SmartyPig.com.

About SmartyPig
Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, SmartyPig is a simple, smart and secure way to save for a specific goal. Using groundbreaking technology and the latest in security standards, SmartyPig helps users reach their savings goals faster by allowing them to invite family and friends to contribute to their accounts, gives additional incentive boosts from top retailers who sell exactly what users are saving for and offers a competitive interest rate. SmartyPig.com is a privately-owned company which launched in February 2008. For more information visit www.SmartyPig.com. SmartyPig is a registered trademark of SmartyPig. US patent pending. All rights reserved.

About West Bank
Founded in 1893, West Bank provides full-service banking and trust services to businesses and consumers. With assets exceeding $1.3 billion, the company continues to receive recognition from the investment community based on its performance in the marketplace. West Bank‘s parent company is West Bancorporation, Inc. whose common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol WTBA.

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of April 7, 2008. Rates may change at any time without prior notice. Fees could reduce earnings on the account. Minimum opening balance is $25.
¹Survey conducted by Zoomerang and commissioned by SmartyPig in August, 2007.